One Day at a Time on Orcas Island

I like to celebrate the small things. Like the daffodils and my one orange tulip blooming. I talk to my tiny lettuce and chard plants that I am sprouting in the south facing windows each morning.
I bask in the sunshine on our window seat when it finally arives in the spring.

On Monday, Ken and I went off to the River Farm to begin the process of teaching the horses how to pull a forecart. It was such fun to have him with me, and he had a great time putting the equipment together and seeing what needed to be done. The mares were very very fiesty, and it took a while to figure out why.. and then it dawned on me.. the biggest full moon in many years, spring moon, and quess what - they were in season! So the day with the horses did not go as smoothy as it could have, but that's horses for you.

On Tuesday that same moon gave us record low tides. So I convinced Ken to go to our friends'
beach to gather oysters. Yum.. Huge old oysters.. such a find. Cassie our 15 yr old Golden Retriever loving being at the beach, digging for stones and wading in the water.

That night we had a date with the Otters, they also had been gathering oysters from one of Teri's Jin Shin Clients who has a oyster farm.. so we feasted on dozens of oysters drenched in galic and butter and others in hot sauce.. Howard and Sheila joined us and brought an apple crisp from their apple trees. I got to hear more stories of their years in the Arctic teaching native children.

Today I worked with my horses, getting them ready for teaching this spring and summer. It was sunny and they really would have prefered to nap. I have been on Rascal about 6 times this spring and on Black Elk about 3 times. They need work.. Black Elk needs to get the steering down, and I need to stop worrying that he'll buck me off!

The Otter's Call

Captain Don Murray- Author of Pie in the Sky Adventures and Recipes

Last Thursday the sun peaked out and I got a call from the Otters. Now, they aren't really otters... Ken and I just call them Otters, 'cause they like to play. Today they were luring me with their siren song to the water - 'come play- come tootle around on the water with us- come out, the sun is shining!'

First Mate and Co-Author- Teri Murray

 What's an old kayak guide to do? I love the water, just being on the water, even when it's cold and raining... but, I had work to do... didn't I? Ken and I discussed it and decided that Jack, my water-loving father, would have said: 'Go! Go play on the water!'

So, down to the Dock in Deer Harbor I went, carrying my snow pants and wearing my mucklucks. Don and Teri, the Otters - had just arrived, loaded down with warm hats, scarves and hot coffee. Once again they were off on a Pie in the Sky Adventure!  This pair are professionals at having a good time, good food and good friends. Their lifetime of living and sailing on boats made my job so simple - just relax and have fun!

Off we went from Deer Harbor out towards Jones Island State Park, over to Stewart Island and then we were hailed by the friendly Coast Guard. They were out training their boys, who didn't look old enough to be out of high school, but obviously were. They put us through the routine and while hauling out life jackets and flares and important paper work, we were reminded why keeping a boat 'ship shape' is a good idea. The Fire extinguisher felt full but said empty, so we were kindly escorted to Roach Harbor. It was not until then, I thought of my camera...

Roach Harbor, San Juan Island

A nice little walk through Roach Harbor, a bit of fuel, a new fire extinguisher, and back on the water. Don was off to find his long time crab fisherman friend, hoping for a crab feed that night. He wasn't hard to find, hauling his pots right off the harbor.

Dungeness Crabs from Roach Harbor-Yum!

 Mission accomplished, we were off to return to Orcas, running ahead of the rain clouds.

And then running a bit faster...

We arrived back at the dock in Deer Harbor just as the hail began to fall.

Within an hour we were cooking crab at Don and Teri's...

What could be better than fresh crab caught hours earlier gently steamed and served with homemade cornbread?

Cracked Crab cooling with Ice Cubes

 Ken was obviously born under a lucky star, as he waits for crab found by Otters.

Looking for a slice of heaven on Orcas Island?  - give Ken a jingle at OrcasDreams - he should be working!

Horse Training at River Farm

Monday found me on the ferry on my way to the River Farm in Deming, to resume my training and teaching. It was cold and dry in the morning, but the weather was supposed to turn later in the day. It's about 90 minutes of 'pedal to the metal' to Deming once you get to Anacortes. I had a good ride over on the ferry, studying my Jin Shin and doing some treatments on my feet, which tend to get tired when I train and teach most of the day.

River Farm is an Intentional Sustainable Community east of Bellingham on the Nooksack River. The two horses are Sally and Sadie, who are progressing very nicely in their Natural Horsemanship Training. 

These Halflinger/QH cross mares are very sweet- just loook at those eyes! Holly and Rosie had done a good job keeping them tuned up over the winter, but now it was time to start making some progress again.

We reviewed the Seven Games, and worked on Companion Walking to get the horses really tuned in to me. It's like a dance and very relaxing for both trainer and horse. The horse gets really responsive and soft and the trainer/leader gets into the right mind set. While working on this we wandered down to the River, where an eagle sat perched in a tree. I reflected on how lucky I was to be working outdoors in such a beautiful place, with eagles and horses and such great folks.

I was so absorbed in my engagement with Sally, I did not see Holly and Sadie come up behind me. Sally was so tuned in to me, she did not even fuss with her pal catching up with us! Holly and I worked the horses on the River for a while, reviewing what we had done last summer and fall.

It was hard to believe that one day last summer Rosie led Sadie (pictured here) into the River and they swam together!
From the river, we went on to ground driving, as our goal is to get the horses pulling this summer...It was a good thing we started early in the day, as by 4 pm, the rains and then snow started. Brrr...it was cold!
Turns out all that Jin Shin really worked and I went home tired, but my feet did not hurt at all!

Healing on Orcas Island

Orcas Island Ferry

Orcas has long been known as a healing place. I felt it as soon as I stepped off the ferry almost 25 years ago!  Last Saturday, I took out some real estate clients and almost the first thing he said was: 'Orcas feels so healing!' This couple from L.A.  had come to Orcas to see if it was the right place to move their family of four children.  Several times they mentioned how healing it felt just being here.

Orcas is tranquil offering stunning views of the Cascades!

I have sold real estate for over 20 years and will continue to do so, but it is not all that captures my attention. I have been practicing Jin Shin since 2003. Not many people know about Jin Shin, but it is a Gentle Healing Tradition from Japan that is like acupuncture and is based on feeling pulses and using meridians. One of the major differences is that there are no needles involved.

Jin Shin uses Energy to heal. It can re-establish harmony in the body and increase vitality. It supports your body to heal itself. It can never hurt you, and everyone I have ever know to have had a Jin Shin session reports feeling better - physically, emotionally and/or spiritually.

For me, I have resolved my sleep apnea, asthma, jumpy legs, fatigue, back injuries and grief issues.  I have helped others with depression, back pain, racing heart, hip pain, acute anxiety, exhaustion and much, much more.





My daughter Heather is a massage therapist, she and her life-long friend Kimmy Clancy are opening a massage studio in Eastsound, WA. this week.  At ISLAND MASSAGE STUDIO, I will be offering Jin Shin.

Marsha, Heather and Kate

I invite you to call to learn more about Jin Shin,  to schedule a Jin Shin session or massage while on Orcas Island. Heather's mother in law, Marsha Segault will be offering a wide array of facials.  I can be reached at 360-376-4642. Island Massage Studio is a Healing Place!